public attitudes to science 2014 topline results 28 46 36 15 health/drugs/cures for ... this topline...

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Q1 When I talk about “science”, what comes to mind? Biology/chemistry/physics 28 46 36 15

Health/drugs/cures for

diseases/hospitals/doctors/medicine/hygiene

17 12 17 17

Space/rockets/astronomy 13 13 7 10

School 12 12 7

Advancement/progress/the future/better

world/helping mankind/easier living/easier life

11 9 10 14

Laboratory/labs 11 11 6

Ideas/innovation/invention/discovery/research/

analysis/logic

11 8 8 16

Experiment/inquisitive/understanding 10 9 10 7

New appliances/new technology 9 7 6 6

Test tubes/chemicals 6 12 2

Computers/IT 5 3 2 5

Environment/nature/plants 5 5 6 5

Animal research/animal experiments 4 6 3

Bunsen burners 4 6 2

Chemical reaction 4 9 1

Engineering 4 3 2 4

White coats/lab coats 3 2 1

Boffins/nerds/eccentric/crazy/mad/mad

professor/mysterious

2 1 2 4

Communications/phones 2 1 * 1

Difficult/difficult to understand 2 1 * 1

Disliked at school/horrible teacher 2 2 *

Food/food production 2 1 2 1

Important/necessary 2 1 1 1

Social

sciences/economics/psychology/sociology

2 2 3

Understanding human behaviour/society 2 2 1

Boring/dull 1 3 1

Fiction/science fiction 1 1 2 2

Genetics/DNA 1 3

GM food/GM crops 1 1

Science festival/science museum/centre 1 1 1 2

Test-tube babies/IVF 1 1 * 2

Mathematics 1 1 *

Mentions of scientists (Einstein, Stephen

Hawking etc)

1 * *

Science (unspecified) 1 0 *

Technology - no mention of new 1 *

Archaeology * 1 1

Bombs/war/destruction of mankind * 1 2 2

Economic benefits/jobs in the sciences * 1 1

Nanotechnology * 1 * 2

Preserving our heritage * * *

Climate change / global warming * 0 *

Electronics/electrical * 0 *

Evolution * * *

Human body / anatomy * * *

My job / previous job / family member's job * * *

Nuclear power * 0 *

The world / the way the world works / Earth * *

While 2014 data are intended to be comparable to previous years, it should be noted that the sampling methodology for the main survey

has changed (from quota to probability sampling). Therefore, trends over time should be treated with appropriate caution.

%

Data for 2014 are based on 1,749 adults aged 16+ (from the main survey) and 510 16-24 year-olds (combined from the main and booster

surveys), unless otherwise stated. Data for previous years are based on roughly equivalent sample sizes of adults aged 16+.

%

Where results do not sum to 100%, or to the net scores (indicated in bold), this is due to multiple responses or computer rounding.

This topline shows results from the Public Attitudes to Science 2014 survey, which consisted of a UK-wide survey of adults aged 16+ and a

booster survey of 16-24 year-olds. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in-home, from 15 July to 18 November 2013.

%

An * indicates a score less than 0.5%, but greater than zero.

Data are weighted to reflect the UK population profile.

PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO SCIENCE 2014 TOPLINE RESULTS

%ResponseNo. %% %Question %

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% % %%ResponseNo. %% %Question %

How things work/are created/making things * 0

History * 0

Industry / manufacturing * 0

TV / film / internet / information gained via

media

* *

Weather * 0

Travel * 0

Power generation 0 * *

Sports science 0 * *

Other 1 1 1

Don't know 3 2 6

Nothing 3 1 5

1 answer only 45 45 44

Any 2 answers 27 27 27

Any 3+ answers 23 25 23

Q2 Very well informed 6 8 6 5 5

Fairly well informed 39 44 38 51 34

Not very well informed 44 41 44 34 42

Not at all informed 11 8 13 9 17

Don't know * * 1 1 *

Informed 45 51 43 55 40

Not informed 55 48 56 43 59

Q3 These days I hear and see far too much

information about science

1 2 2 3 2 3

These days I hear and see too much


6 7 6 6 5 11

These days I hear and see the right amount of


40 38 38 52 40 55

These days I hear and see too little information

about science

42 46 40 29 37 20

These days I hear and see far too little


9 6 11 5 12 4

Don't know 3 2 3 6 2 7

Hear and see too much information 6 8 8 9 7 14

Hear and see too little information 51 52 51 34 49 24

Q4 TV – news programmes 42 34

TV – other programmes 26 17

Print newspapers 23 11

Online newspapers or news websites 15 24

Friends and family 9 12

Radio – news programmes 9 7

Other websites (not news or social networking

websites)

9 10

Magazines 7 6

Books 6 10

Radio – other programmes 6 4

Scientific journals 5 5

Facebook 4 12

Work colleagues 3 2

Science blogs 2 4

Other social networking websites 2 5

Twitter 1 6

Through school/ lectures/ university/ teachers * *

None of these 2 2

Don't know 1 1

TV (any) 59 46

Newspapers/ magazines (any) 41 38

Radio (any) 14 10

Friends/ family/ colleagues (any) 12 13

Which of the following statements do you most

agree with?

From which one or two of these, if any, do you hear

or read about new scientific research findings most

often?

How well informed do you feel, if at all, about

science, and scientific research and developments?

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Q5 BBC/ BBC News – www.bbc.co.uk/news 69 61

Google News – http://news.google.co.uk 27 25

Sky/ Sky News – http://news.sky.com 14 14

The Guardian – www.guardian.co.uk 13 16

The Daily Mail – www.dailymail.co.uk 13 19

Yahoo – http://uk.yahoo.com 13 9

The Times – www.thetimes.co.uk 8 8

An online-only magazine e.g. The Huffington

Post or The Daily Beast

8 3

The Daily Telegraph – www.telegraph.co.uk 5 6

MSN – http://uk.msn.com 5 7

The Sun – www.thesun.co.uk 4 6

The Independent – www.independent.co.uk 4 3

The Financial Times – www.ft.com 3 3

ITN – www.itn.co.uk 2 *

Daily Mirror – www.mirror.co.uk 1 3

Daily Express – www.dailyexpress.co.uk 1 1

Daily Star – www.dailystar.co.uk 1 0

Other 3 2

Don't know * *

None of these 2 1

Q6 The Government/ taxpayer 70 62 71

Private industry/ business/ companies 36 21 44

Charities 16 9 17

Universities 10 11 17

Wealthy individuals 5 3 5

NHS/ Health service/ medical bodies * * *

Scientists/ scientific institutes * 0 *

Trusts/ research trusts/ foundations/ grants * 0 *

Europe/ EU * 0

NASA * *

Royal societies * *

Research Councils * 0

Contributions/ fundraisers/ sponsors * *

Foreign countries/ investors 0 *

Other * 0 1

Don't know/ no answer 17 29 13

Q7

Q7A Very well informed 5 6 5

Fairly well informed 38 35 35

Not very well informed 35 33 39

Not at all informed 15 16 16

Have never heard of it 6 9 4

Don't know 1 1 1

Informed 43 41 40

Not informed 56 58 59

Q7B Very well informed 9 11 7




Have never heard of it 1 * *

Don't know 1 1 *

Informed 54 60 52


Q7C Very well informed 7 9 6




Have never heard of it 2 * 1

Don't know * 1 *

Informed 47 47 45


Q7D Very well informed 3 6 4





Don't know 1 1 2

Informed 34 36 34


As far as you know, who funds scientific research in

the UK?

You said you get information about new scientific

research findings from newspapers or news

websites. Which of these do you use?

Base: All who say they get information about new

scientific research findings from online newspapers

or news websites (253 adults; 128 16-24 year-olds)

I’m going to read out a list of topics. Could you tell me how well informed you feel, if at all, about

each topic?

Genetically modified plants (GM crops)

Stem cell research

Nuclear power

The use of animals in research

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Q7E Very well informed 1 1 1





Don't know 1 2 3

Informed 8 8 9


Q7F Very well informed 17 27 16




Have never heard of it 1 * *

Don't know * * 1

Informed 78 80 75


Q7G Very well informed 12 11

Fairly well informed 46 40

Not very well informed 29 32

Not at all informed 12 14

Have never heard of it 1 2

Don't know 1 1

Informed 57 51

Not informed 42 48

Q7H Very well informed 5 4 5





Don't know 1 1 2

Informed 35 29 33


Q7I Very well informed 17 18 14





Don't know * * *

Informed 77 73 74


Q7J Very well informed 12 18 11





Don't know 1 1 1

Informed 61 67 61


Q7K Very well informed 2 3 2





Don't know 1 2 4

Informed 14 18 14


Q8

Q8A Benefits far outweigh the risks 11 12 10

Benefits slightly outweigh the risks 25 22 24

The risks and benefits are about the same 22 30 24

Risks slightly outweigh the benefits 19 18 18

Risks far outweigh the benefits 10 4 10

Don't know 12 13 13

None of these 1 1 *

Benefits outweigh the risks 36 34 35

Risks outweigh the benefits 28 22 28

Clinical trials

Vaccination of people against diseases

Nanotechnology

Genetically modified plants (GM crops)

Base: all who have heard of this (1,620 adults; 458

16-24 year-olds)

Economics and the way the economy works

From what you know or have heard about … , which of these statements, if any, most closely

reflects your own opinion?

Synthetic biology

Renewable energy

Climate change

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Q8B Benefits far outweigh the risks 18 14 17





Don't know 5 3 5

None of these 1 * *



Q8C Benefits far outweigh the risks 14 15 15





Don't know 11 11 9

None of these 1 1 *



Q8D Benefits far outweigh the risks 28 26 27





Don't know 18 18 17

None of these 1 1 *



Q8E Benefits far outweigh the risks 15 17 12





Don't know 23 23 26

None of these 2 1 *



Q8F Benefits far outweigh the risks 33 34

Benefits slightly outweigh the risks 26 29

The risks and benefits are about the same 22 20

Risks slightly outweigh the benefits 7 6

Risks far outweigh the benefits 2 3

Don't know 9 7

None of these 1 1

Benefits outweigh the risks 59 63

Risks outweigh the benefits 9 9

Q8G Benefits far outweigh the risks 28 18 26





Don't know 9 13 10

None of these 1 1 *



Q8H Benefits far outweigh the risks 63 54 60





Don't know 2 4 2

None of these * 1 *



Q8I Benefits far outweigh the risks 37 45 43





Don't know 10 8 8

None of these 1 1 *



Synthetic biology – that is, designing new biological

parts or systems that do not already exist, or

modifying existing ones


16-24 year-olds)

Taking action to address climate change


16-24 year-olds)

Renewable energy


16-24 year-olds)

Clinical trials


16-24 year-olds)

Stem cell research


16-24 year-olds)

Vaccination of people against diseases


16-24 year-olds)

Nuclear power


16-24 year-olds)

The use of animals in research


16-24 year-olds)

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Q8J Benefits far outweigh the risks 16 21 14





Don't know 31 25 34

None of these 2 * *



Q9 Very confident 16 17 11

Fairly confident 53 55 53

Not very confident 20 19 23

Not at all confident 5 3 7

It depends on the area they work in 1 1 2

Don't know 4 5 4

Confident 69 72 64

Not confident 26 22 31

Q10 The Government/ government agency/

department/ quango

62 56 62

Scientists themselves 11 11 8

Scientific professional bodies 8 6 13

Ethics Committees 5 3 5

Business/ industry/ companies/ the companies

the scientists work for

4 3 5

The European Union (EU)/ Brussels 4 3 4

Parliament/ Westminster/ Scottish Parliament/

Welsh Assembly/ Northern Ireland Assembly

3 3 5

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 2 2 5

The general public 1 2 2

Campaign groups/ the campaign groups the

scientists work for

1 * 1

Charities/ the charities the scientists work for 1 1 1

Environmental groups/ the environmental

groups the scientists work for

1 1 1

Global body (unspecified) 1 2 1

The NHS 1 * 2

The Royal Society 1 1 1

Research Councils 1 1 5

Universities/ the universities the scientists

work for

1 1 3

Local council * * 1

The United Nations (UN) * 1 1

British Medical Association (BMA) * 0 *

Experts/ knowledgeable people * 0 *

Independent/ regulatory/ standards body

(unspecified)

* 1 *

Clergy/ religious body * 0

G8 * 0

NASA * 0

NICE * 0

Other * * 1

No one 2 3 1

Don't know 21 28 21




As far as you know, who, if anyone, sets the rules

and regulations for scientists in the UK to follow

when they are doing their job?

How confident, if at all, are you that scientists in the

UK have thoroughly considered the risks of new

technologies before they are used?

Nanotechnology – that is, using tiny particles in

manufacturing different sorts of products


16-24 year-olds)

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Q11 The Government/ government agency/

department/ quango

51 44 51

Scientists themselves 25 22 15

Scientific professional bodies 13 11 19

The general public 7 10 8

Ethics Committees 6 3 6

Global body (unspecified) 3 3 2

The European Union (EU)/ Brussels 3 2 2

Parliament/ Westminster/ Scottish Parliament/

Welsh Assembly/ Northern Ireland Assembly

2 4 6

Business/ industry/ companies/ the companies

the scientists work for

2 2 3

Environmental groups/ the environmental

groups the scientists work for

2 2 1

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 2 2 5

The NHS 2 1 2

Research Councils 2 1 5

Universities/ the universities the scientists

work for

2 1 2

Charities/ the charities the scientists work for 1 1 1

The Royal Society 1 1 1

Independent/ regulatory/ standards body

(unspecified)

1 2 2

Campaign groups/ the campaign groups the

scientists work for

* 1 1

Local council * 1

The United Nations (UN) * 1 1

Experts/ knowledgeable people * 1 *

Clergy/ religious body * 0

G8 * 0

NASA * 0

NICE * 0

British Medical Association (BMA) 0 0

Other * 0 1

No one 2 1 *

Don't know 11 17 11




Q12

Q12A Strongly agree 6 6 7

Tend to agree 36 36 39

Neither agree nor disagree 20 26 22

Tend to disagree 24 19 22

Strongly disagree 9 7 6

Don't know 5 5 5

Agree 42 42 45

Disagree 33 27 28

Q12B Strongly agree 7 6 7 9 8 12 16

Tend to agree 23 20 22 26 30 30 28

Neither agree nor disagree 21 21 23 25 22 25 19

Tend to disagree 25 24 26 28 27 20 21

Strongly disagree 22 28 20 9 8 12 13

Don't know 2 2 1 3 4 3 3

Agree 30 26 29 34 38 41 44

Disagree 47 52 46 38 35 31 34

Q12C Strongly agree 3 3 3





Don't know 2 1 1

Agree 14 13 15

Disagree 75 76 74

Who, if anyone, do you think should set the rules

and regulations for scientists in the UK to follow

when they are doing their job?

Human activity does not have a significant effect on

the climate

I am now going to read out some statements. For each of the statements, please could you tell me

the extent to which you agree or disagree?

We depend too much on science and not enough

on faith

The UK Government is working hard to ensure that

people living in the UK will have enough fuel for our

future needs

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Q12D Strongly agree 23 20 21 27 33

Tend to agree 32 33 35 43 39

Neither agree nor disagree 20 24 18 19 15

Tend to disagree 19 17 20 9 10

Strongly disagree 6 6 5 2 1

Don't know 1 * 1 0 2

Agree 55 53 56 70 72

Disagree 25 23 25 11 11

Q12E Strongly agree 38 53 31 21 22

Tend to agree 46 39 50 54 49



Strongly disagree 1 * 1 2 4

Don't know * * * 0 1

Agree 83 92 81 76 71

Disagree 8 2 8 10 13

Q12F Strongly agree 25 19 20





Don't know 3 1 3

Agree 41 30 39

Disagree 37 48 37

Q12G Strongly agree 59 79 52 29 29

Tend to agree 31 19 38 47 43


Tend to disagree 4 * 4 12 12

Strongly disagree 1 * 1 3 5

Don't know * * * 0 1

Agree 90 98 89 76 72

Disagree 5 1 5 15 16

Q12H Strongly agree 26 26

Tend to agree 36 35

Neither agree nor disagree 16 18

Tend to disagree 10 7

Strongly disagree 9 12

Don't know 3 1

Agree 62 61

Disagree 19 19

Q13 Nature reserve 40 26

Zoo or aquarium 39 44

Art gallery 32 33

Another type of museum (not science or art) 30 28

Science museum 23 26

Science and discovery centre 13 11

Working laboratory or similar scientific site 7 12

Planetarium 6 6

Literature festival 5 5

Science festival 3 4

Conference/ lectures/ seminars 1 1

Other museum/ attraction with a scientific

theme (i.e. aeronautic, botanical)

1 1

Other non-science related attraction 1 *

School/ university science activity * *

Work-related scientific activity 0 *

Other * 0

None of these 26 23

Don't know * *

Any science-related activity 67 67

Q14

Q14A Went alone 8 4 8

Son(s) (including step or foster) 28 1 28

Daughter(s) (including step or foster) 26 2 23

Mother (including step or foster) 4 20 4

Father (including step or foster) 2 12 3

Sister(s) (including step) 3 9 3

Brothers (including step) 4 12 2

Partner 44 19 41

Friends 14 32 17

With school, college or university 5 19 4

Other relative (including in-laws) 11 4 10

Other (non-relative) 2 3 4

Don't know/ no answer 1 0 *

It is possible to believe in a god and still hold the

view that life on earth, including human life, evolved

over time as a result of natural selection

Science museum

Base: all who have been at least once in the last 12

months (391 adults; 140 16-24 year-olds)

I enjoy new situations and challenges

Which, if any, of the these have you visited or

attended in the last 12 months?

God created the earth and all life in it

It is important for me to keep on learning new skills

People shouldn’t tamper with nature

And on your last visit, who, if anyone, did you go to the ... with?

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Q14B Went alone 12 9 18







Partner 47 24 39

Friends 17 33 23


Other relative (including in-laws) 5 * 5


Don't know/ no answer * 0 *

Q14C Went alone 9 5 11







Partner 49 23 44

Friends 16 35 19





Q14D Went alone 4 8 10







Partner 51 9 43

Friends 10 26 11





Q14E Went alone 2 3 4







Partner 57 15 39

Friends 9 39 17





Q14F Went alone 3 2

Son(s) (including step or foster) 34 4

Daughter(s) (including step or foster) 34 7

Mother (including step or foster) 6 33

Father (including step or foster) 3 24

Sister(s) (including step) 4 20

Brothers (including step) 2 12

Partner 54 24

Friends 16 30

With school, college or university 1 5

Other relative (including in-laws) 15 8

Other (non-relative) 2 1

Don't know/ no answer 0 0

Art gallery



Another type of museum (not science or art)



Planetarium



Zoo or aquarium



Science and Discovery Centre



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Q14G Went alone 32 18

Son(s) (including step or foster) 5 0

Daughter(s) (including step or foster) 3 0

Mother (including step or foster) 2 4

Father (including step or foster) 2 6

Sister(s) (including step) 2 3

Brothers (including step) 0 0

Partner 7 2

Friends 11 15

With school, college or university 14 44

Other relative (including in-laws) 2 0

Other (non-relative) 24 13


Q14H Went alone 16 22 32







Partner 23 0 19

Friends 8 31 10





Q14I Went alone 10 7 31







Partner 39 13 26

Friends 31 33 26





Q14J Went alone 6 5 31







Partner 57 20 26

Friends 14 26 26




Don't know/ no answer * 0 0

Q15

Q15A Strongly agree 3 1 2 4 4

Tend to agree 14 11 12 23 24




Don't know 1 1 2 1 2

Agree 16 13 15 27 29

Disagree 71 74 72 56 53

Q15B Strongly agree 8 6 9 8 8

Tend to agree 22 12 23 27 30




Don't know * 0 1 1 1

Agree 30 18 32 35 38

Disagree 54 70 52 48 42

Working laboratory or similar scientific site



Literature festival



Science festival



I don’t think I’m clever enough to understand

science and technology

Asked of half the sample in 2014 (858 adults; 254

16-24 year-olds)

Nature reserve



I don’t understand the point of all the science being

done today

I am now going to read out some statements about science. For each of the statements, please

could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree?

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Q15C Strongly agree 8 6

Tend to agree 23 15




Don't know * *

Agree 31 21

Disagree 54 63


Tend to agree 47 47 57 61 58





Agree 84 78 82 79 73

Disagree 5 6 5 7 9

Q15E Strongly agree 35 28 25





Don't know 1 1 2

Agree 79 79 76

Disagree 7 6 8






Don't know 2 1 4

Agree 48 55 51

Disagree 31 21 24


Tend to agree 15 17 17 17 14





Agree 24 27 24 21 20

Disagree 63 60 60 63 63

Q15H Strongly agree 14 12 12 7 7 12 12

Tend to agree 41 34 42 39 36 32 33

Neither agree nor disagree 26 34 28 37 31 26 17

Tend to disagree 13 15 13 16 15 20 22

Strongly disagree 3 2 2 1 2 5 10

Don't know 4 2 3 0 9 4 6

Agree 55 46 54 46 43 45 45

Disagree 16 18 15 17 18 26 32

Q15I Strongly agree 10 4 9 8 7

Tend to agree 34 24 36 34 35





Agree 43 28 46 42 42

Disagree 35 43 33 34 36

Q15J Strongly agree 3 3 2





Don't know 2 2 3

Agree 14 13 15

Disagree 65 60 63

Q15K Strongly agree 11 7 13 11 15

Tend to agree 44 37 50 45 51





Agree 55 44 63 56 66

Disagree 28 36 22 24 19

The benefits of science are greater than any

harmful effects

Science is such a big part of our lives that we

should all take an interest

School put me off science

I don’t think I’m clever enough to understand

engineering


16-24 year-olds)

Even if it brings no immediate benefits, scientific

research which advances knowledge should be

funded by the Government

I cannot follow developments in science and

technology because the speed of development is

too fast

Science and technology are too specialised for most

people to understand them

Government funding for science should be cut

because the money can be better spent elsewhere

I see science and engineering differently

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Q15L Strongly agree 24 30 17 12 22 10 20 26

Tend to agree 48 51 50 50 49 49 31 30

Neither agree nor disagree 14 10 15 17 15 21 15 8

Tend to disagree 11 8 14 18 11 15 22 23

Strongly disagree 3 1 2 2 2 3 11 11

Don't know * * 1 1 1 3 2 2

Agree 72 81 68 62 70 59 50 57

Disagree 13 9 16 20 12 22 33 34

Q15M Strongly agree 6 5 5 4 8 8

Tend to agree 35 27 35 32 40 33

Neither agree nor disagree 21 32 22 31 23 20

Tend to disagree 26 27 28 29 21 25

Strongly disagree 6 4 5 4 3 4

Don't know 5 5 5 0 5 10

Agree 41 32 40 36 47 41

Disagree 32 31 33 33 24 29

Q15N Strongly agree 28 36 23 15 25

Tend to agree 53 44 56 55 57



Strongly disagree 1 1 * 1 *

Don't know 1 * 2 2 1

Agree 81 80 80 70 82

Disagree 5 5 5 8 3

Q15O Strongly agree 4 4 4 3 7 6

Tend to agree 20 19 20 21 28 26




Don't know 1 0 1 0 1 3

Agree 24 23 24 25 34 32

Disagree 54 51 53 48 40 47

Q15P Strongly agree 7 9 7 8

Tend to agree 20 24 23 30

Neither agree nor disagree 23 28 21 31

Tend to disagree 32 26 33 27

Strongly disagree 16 11 14 4

Don't know 2 2 2 0

Agree 27 32 30 38

Disagree 48 38 47 31

Q15Q Strongly agree 4 3

Tend to agree 16 14




Don't know 1 0

Agree 20 17

Disagree 68 70

Q15R Strongly agree 3 4 3





Don't know 1 1 1

Agree 15 19 19

Disagree 73 67 69

Q15S Strongly agree 2 3 2





Don't know 4 4 5

Agree 16 21 15

Disagree 64 52 62

Q15T Strongly agree 6 5 17 17





Don't know 1 1 3 2

Agree 34 31 52 49


* "Science makes our life change too fast" in 1996

Science makes our way of life change too fast*

The more I know about science the more worried I

am

Science should be seen in isolation from other

aspects of human knowledge

Scientific advances tend to benefit the rich more

than they benefit the poor

It is important to know about science in my daily life*

* "It is not important for me to know about science in my daily life" in 1996 – scale has been reversed for comparison

I don’t really know what a scientist does


16-24 year-olds)

I don’t really know what an engineer does


16-24 year-olds)

The speed of development in science and

technology means that they cannot be properly

controlled by government

On the whole, science will make our lives easier

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Q15U Strongly agree 11 16

Tend to agree 47 50




Don't know 5 5

Agree 58 66

Disagree 13 9

Q15V Strongly agree 19 18

Tend to agree 58 57



Strongly disagree 1 *

Don't know 3 3

Agree 77 75

Disagree 6 4

Q16

Q16A Interesting 82 78

Boring 14 18

Don't know 3 3

Neither/ it depends 1 1

Q16B Narrow-minded 13 13

Open-minded 79 83

Don't know 4 3


Q16C Good at communicating 48 58

Poor at communicating 40 35

Don't know 9 6


Q16D Secretive 50 50

Open 37 43

Don't know 8 6


Q16E Creative 89 92

Uncreative 6 6

Don't know 3 2


Q16F Honest 71 73

Dishonest 11 16

Don't know 13 9


Q16G Unethical 15 21

Ethical 65 63

Don't know 14 14


Q17

Q17A Interesting 79 72

Boring 16 23

Don't know 3 4


Q17B Narrow-minded 11 13

Open-minded 81 78

Don't know 6 7


Q17C Good at communicating 59 66

Poor at communicating 28 22

Don't know 10 11


Q17D Secretive 31 33

Open 55 57

Don't know 10 8


Q17E Creative 90 89

Uncreative 5 7

Don't know 3 3

Neither/ it depends 1 *

Q17F Honest 78 77

Dishonest 6 6

Don't know 12 14


Secretive vs. open

Interesting vs. boring

Unethical vs. ethical

Honest vs. dishonest

Creative vs. uncreative

Which of each of these pairs of words or phrases comes closest to your current view of scientists?

Asked of half the sample in 2014 (858 adults; 254 16-24 year-olds)

Good at communicating vs. poor at communicating

Narrow-minded vs. open-minded

Which of each of these pairs of words or phrases comes closest to your current view of engineers?

Asked of half the sample in 2014 (891 adults; 256 16-24 year-olds)

Applying the findings from research on human

behaviour will help to improve the population’s

health


16-24 year-olds)

Applying the findings from research on human

behaviour will help to reduce people’s impact on the

environment


16-24 year-olds)

Interesting vs. boring

Narrow-minded vs. open-minded

Good at communicating vs. poor at communicating

Secretive vs. open

Creative vs. uncreative

Honest vs. dishonest

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Q17G Unethical 9 13

Ethical 73 70

Don't know 14 16


Q18 Honest 45 40

Ethical 38 33

Open-minded 33 39

Creative 28 32

Good at communicating 22 26

Interesting 13 11

Open 13 11

Don't know 1 1

None of these * 0

Q19 Creative 48 59

Open-minded 35 41

Honest 33 24

Good at communicating 29 30

Ethical 24 19

Interesting 13 15

Open 9 5

Don't know 1 0

None of these * 0

Q20

Q20A True 39 40

False 49 50

Don't know 12 10

Answered correctly 39 40

Not answered correctly 61 60

Q20B True 15 16

False 76 78

Don't know 9 7



Q20C True 79 72 72

False 9 14 14

Don't know 12 14 15

Answered correctly 79 72 72

Not answered correctly 21 28 29

Q20D True 95 93

False 3 3

Don't know 2 4



Q20E True 85 84

False 9 10

Don't know 5 6



Q21

Q21A A great deal 23 23 20

A fair amount 51 51 52

Not very much 17 20 19

Not at all 6 4 5

Don't know 3 3 5

Great deal/ fair amount 74 73 72

Not very much/ at all 23 24 23

Q21B A great deal 10 10 9



Not at all 6 5 6

Don't know 4 3 6



Q21C A great deal 40 48 25



Not at all 2 1 2

Don't know 3 2 4



I am going to read out a number of statements. For each one, I would like you to tell me whether you

think it is true or false.

You need a licence before you can plant genetically-

modified (GM) crops in the UK

Before a medicine can be given to patients in the

UK, the company that make it must demonstrate to

regulators that it has been tested

Any food that contains genetically modified (GM)

ingredients must be labelled as such in the UK

UK law states that all medicines must be tested on

animals before being made available to people

How much, if at all, do you trust each of the following to follow any rules and regulations which apply

to their profession? Asked of half the sample in 2014 (858 adults; 254 16-24 year-olds)

Scientists working for universities

Scientists working for government

And looking at these words or phrases, which one

or two do you think it is most important for

engineers to be?


16-24 year-olds)

And looking at these words or phrases, which one

or two do you think it is most important for scientists

to be?


16-24 year-olds)

Unethical vs. ethical

Scientists working for private companies

Any scientist in the UK can carry out research with

animals

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Q21D A great deal 37 40 20



Not at all 1 * 2

Don't know 3 3 6



Q21E A great deal 25 28 15



Not at all 2 1 2

Don't know 4 3 6



Q22

Q22A A great deal 17 18 13



Not at all 3 1 3

Don't know 4 1 7



Q22B A great deal 31 29 23


Not very much 6 6 9

Not at all 1 1 1

Don't know 4 2 6



Q22C A great deal 26 27 19



Not at all 4 4 3

Don't know 3 2 5



Q22D A great deal 33 30 24



Not at all 2 1 2

Don't know 3 1 5



Q22E A great deal 35 38 25



Not at all 1 1 2

Don't know 4 2 6



Q23


Tend to agree 44 40 50 59 58



Strongly disagree * 0 * * *


Agree 90 84 88 85 86

Disagree 2 2 2 3 2

Q23B Strongly agree 38 35

Tend to agree 49 49




Don't know 2 2

Agree 88 84

Disagree 3 3

University lecturers

Asked of half the sample in 2014

Engineers working for private companies


Scientists working for environmental groups

Scientists working for charities

Engineers working for universities


Researchers working for government


Researchers working for universities


Engineers make a valuable contribution to society


16-24 year-olds)

How much, if at all, do you trust each of the following to follow any rules and regulations which apply

to their profession? Asked of half the sample in 2014 (891 adults; 256 16-24 year-olds)

I am now going to read out some statements about scientists. For each of the statements, please

could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree?

Scientists make a valuable contribution to society


16-24 year-olds)

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Q23C Strongly agree 32 38 31 19




Strongly disagree * * * 1

Don't know 4 3 4 6

Agree 82 82 84 77

Disagree 5 2 3 4

Q23D Strongly agree 6 8 5





Don't know 5 3 7

Agree 35 37 36

Disagree 34 36 32

Q23E Strongly agree 27 31 19 13 12

Tend to agree 56 51 63 64 56



Strongly disagree * * 1 * 1


Agree 83 82 82 76 67

Disagree 4 4 4 6 9






Don't know 4 3 4

Agree 55 45 54

Disagree 25 29 25


Tend to agree 41 41 46 58 53





Agree 87 83 85 84 78

Disagree 2 2 3 3 4

Q23H Strongly agree 26 20 25 16 28

Tend to agree 51 52 50 56 45





Agree 77 72 76 72 72

Disagree 4 3 5 4 4

Q23I Strongly agree 39 35 33 31




Strongly disagree 3 1 2 *

Don't know 1 1 3 0

Agree 75 71 73 81

Disagree 15 14 13 7

Q23J Strongly agree 25 28 20 19 31 19

Tend to agree 44 39 46 55 43 50




Don't know 1 2 2 0 1 5

Agree 69 67 66 74 75 69

Disagree 13 12 14 9 9 12

Q23K Strongly agree 23 20

Tend to agree 44 38




Don't know 1 1

Agree 67 58

Disagree 18 25

Rules will not stop scientists doing what they want

behind closed doors

The independence of scientists is often put at risk

by the interests of their funders

Government should delay the introduction of new

medicines or technologies until scientists are

completely certain there are no bad side effects

Scientists should listen more to what ordinary

people think

Scientists should be allowed to carry out research

with animals, if this can lead to improvements in

human health

It is important to have some scientists who are not

linked to businesses

It’s normal for scientists to disagree

Scientists adjust their findings to get the answers

they want

In general, scientists want to make life better for the

average person

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Q23L Strongly agree 17 12 15 11





Don't know 7 5 9 0

Agree 66 53 63 60

Disagree 9 13 9 9

Q24 Yes 53 38

No 42 52

Don't know 5 10

Q25 Yes 37 35

No 63 65

Q26

Q26A Strongly agree 21 22 16





Don't know 4 2 5

Agree 62 63 62

Disagree 13 16 12

Q26B Strongly agree 18 17 15





Don't know 2 * 2

Agree 51 52 44

Disagree 33 29 36

Q26C Strongly agree 1 2 1 *





Don't know 1 0 2 0

Agree 3 4 4 5


Q26D Strongly agree 2 1

Tend to agree 4 3




Don't know * *

Agree 5 4

Disagree 89 89

Q26E Strongly agree 2 3

Tend to agree 12 12




Don't know 8 5

Agree 13 15

Disagree 66 64






Don't know 7 6 8

Agree 29 15 36

Disagree 49 57 39

Q26G Strongly agree 36 34 29





Don't know 1 * 1

Agree 76 70 67

Disagree 16 19 23

Because of science and technology there will be

more work opportunities for the next generation

The science I learnt at school has been useful in my

everyday life

Science is not a suitable career for a woman


16-24 year-olds)

Engineering is a dying industry in the UK


16-24 year-olds)

Did your school have any science or engineering

clubs while you were there?

Base: All 16-24 year-olds (510)

The maths I learnt at school has been useful in my

everyday life

And did you ever go to any of these science or

engineering clubs while you were at school?

Base: All 16-24 year-olds whose school had a

science or engineering club (268)I’m going to read out some statements about studying and working in science. For each of the

statements, please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree?

0

Science is a dying industry in the UK


16-24 year-olds)

Engineering is not a suitable career for a woman


16-24 year-olds)

Scientists are too dependent on business and

industry for funding

Don't know 0

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Q26H Strongly agree 51 40 38 28




Strongly disagree * * * *

Don't know 1 * 2 0

Agree 91 84 87 85

Disagree 2 3 3 3

Q26I Strongly agree 14 18

Tend to agree 37 38




Don't know 12 10

Agree 51 56

Disagree 14 11

Q26J Strongly agree 17 18 10 11





Don't know 8 10 10 0

Agree 60 65 58 55

Disagree 11 3 11 10

Q26K Strongly agree 12 16 8





Don't know 4 2 3

Agree 58 56 54

Disagree 22 23 23

Q26L Strongly agree 11 11

Tend to agree 45 33




Don't know 4 2

Agree 56 44

Disagree 23 27

Q26M Strongly agree 38 27 30 25 28

Tend to agree 43 44 48 51 51



Strongly disagree * 1 * 1 *


Agree 81 71 79 75 79

Disagree 2 3 4 6 5

Q26N Strongly agree 26 27 19





Don't know 4 2 5

Agree 73 72 68

Disagree 6 11 6

Q26O Strongly agree 22 21 14





Don't know 5 6 8

Agree 68 59 61

Disagree 6 13 7

Q26P Strongly agree 34 29 25





Don't know 2 7 2

Agree 68 58 66

Disagree 20 20 21

Compared to other professions, engineering offers

a well-paid career


16-24 year-olds)

* "Britain needs to develop science and technology in order to enhance its international competitiveness" in 2008 and 2000

Jobs in science are very interesting


16-24 year-olds)

The maths I learnt at school has been useful in my

job

Young people’s interest in science is essential for

our future prosperity

Jobs in engineering are very interesting


16-24 year-olds)

Studying science won’t necessarily get you a good

job


16-24 year-olds)

The UK needs to develop its science and

technology sector in order to enhance its

international competitiveness*

Studying engineering won’t necessarily get you a

good job


16-24 year-olds)

Compared to other professions, science offers a

well-paid career


16-24 year-olds)

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Q26Q Strongly agree 28 22 23




Strongly disagree * 0 *

Don't know 6 4 7

Agree 76 73 75

Disagree 4 3 3

Q27 A great deal of effort 1 3 1 3

A fair amount of effort 27 31 25 34

Not very much effort 56 55 55 36

No effort at all 10 8 10 12

Don't know 6 3 9 15

Great deal/ fair amount 28 33 26 37

Not very much/ at all 66 63 65 48

Q28 I’m not interested in being involved in decision-

making about science issues, as long as

scientists are doing their jobs

24 20

I would like to know that the public are involved

in decision-making about science issues, but I

don’t want to be involved personally

43 40

I would like to have more of a say on science

issues

21 23

I would like to become actively involved in

decision-making about science issues

8 13

I am already actively involved in decision-

making about science issues

2 1

Don't know 3 3

Q29


Tend to agree 41 30 41 39 40





Agree 52 36 51 49 50

Disagree 18 20 19 16 17

Q29B Strongly agree 20 16 18 18 32

Tend to agree 55 53 55 61 49



Strongly disagree 1 2 1 * 1


Agree 75 69 73 79 81

Disagree 7 6 8 5 6

Q29C Strongly agree 32 29 26 24 32

Tend to agree 56 54 58 64 55



Strongly disagree * 1 * * *


Agree 88 83 84 87 87

Disagree 3 4 4 3 3


Tend to agree 49 42 49 46 39





Agree 67 59 60 55 49

Disagree 20 21 24 26 32

Q29E Strongly agree 2 2 2 2





Don't know 5 4 7 0

Agree 16 19 17 21


The Government should act in accordance with

public concerns about science and technology

Those who regulate science need to communicate

with the public

Which of these statements, if any, comes closest to

your own attitude to decision-making about science

issues?

Here are some things which other people have said about how science is communicated and

discussed. For each of the statements, please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or

disagree?

The public is sufficiently involved in decisions about

science and technology

Scientific research makes a direct contribution to

economic growth in the UK

How much effort do you think the Government is

making to consult the public on science?

Public consultation events are just public relations

activities and don’t make any difference to policy

We have no option but to trust those governing

science

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Q29F Strongly agree 24 26 17 11




Strongly disagree 1 * 1 1

Don't know 3 2 4 0

Agree 70 68 64 61

Disagree 10 8 10 13

Q29G Strongly agree 18 20 15





Don't know 2 2 3

Agree 70 67 71

Disagree 12 16 11

Q29H Strongly agree 27 28 21 14





Don't know 5 5 7 0

Agree 70 70 66 62

Disagree 10 8 10 13

Q29I Strongly agree 9 10 10 10





Don't know 4 3 5 0

Agree 58 53 60 61


Q29J Strongly agree 4 5 4





Don't know 7 5 10

Agree 52 54 47

Disagree 9 9 9

Q29K Strongly agree 10 12 6 7





Don't know 3 2 5 0

Agree 53 54 44 55


Q29L Strongly agree 23 14 23 16 26 16

Tend to agree 48 43 47 53 45 48



Strongly disagree 1 1 * 1 1 1

Don't know 4 4 5 0 4 8

Agree 71 58 70 69 72 64

Disagree 9 12 9 10 9 11

Q29M Strongly agree 18 19 14 32





Don't know 3 3 5 3

Agree 68 71 65 80

Disagree 11 7 10 5

Q29N Strongly agree 21 20 16 17 23

Tend to agree 50 51 52 61 51



Strongly disagree 2 3 1 * 2


Agree 71 72 68 78 74

Disagree 12 12 13 7 9

The media sensationalises science

There is so much conflicting information about

science it is difficult to know what to believe

Politicians are too easily swayed by the media’s

reaction to scientific issues

I would like more scientists to spend more time than

they do discussing the social and ethical

implications of their research with the general public

We ought to hear about potential new areas of

science and technology before they happen, not

afterwards

Experts and not the public should advise the

Government about the implications of scientific

developments

Scientists should be rewarded for communicating

their research to the public

The information I hear about science is generally

true

Scientists put too little effort into informing the public

about their work

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Q29O Strongly agree 2 5 1





Don't know 2 2 3

Agree 14 19 14

Disagree 70 61 68

Q30 Have no reason to doubt it 40 39 35

It's checked by other scientists 15 19 27

It comes directly from scientists 13 14 12

Regulation/ science is regulated 12 12 16

It's checked by someone (unspecified) 8 11 11

It's checked by journalists 3 4 5

From what I've seen in magazines/

newspapers/ on TV – trust the media

2 2 1

I check the information myself/ read up/ my

own sources/ I am knowledgeable

2 1 3

Evidence is backed up/ with research/ facts/

results

2 1

I trust scientists/ they are experts 1 0 2

I/ partner/ family member work/ worked in the

industry

1 * *

From what I've read in scientific journals * *

Scientists' careers/ reputations depend on

them being correct/ unbiased

* * 1

Experience/ things come true * 0 1

Different people say the same things/ different

sources give impression it is true

* 1

Lies will be found out/ untrue things are not

kept under wraps

* 0

Other 1 1 2

No particular reason/ that’s my view 20 20 3


Q31 No proof/ evidence/ believe it if I can see it 37 44 25

Have no reason to trust it 21 16 20

It's not checked by journalists 10 5 11

It does not come directly from scientists 10 14 10

It's not checked by anyone (unspecified) 7 8 13

It's not checked by other scientists 6 4 11

Weak regulation/ science is not regulated 6 1 5

Conflicting opinions among scientists 5 2 1

Media sensationalism/ bias/ don't trust the

media

3 3 9

Fabricated/ con/ government cover-ups 1 0 2

They only tell you what they want you to know 1 1 2

Companies influence them/ vested interests

sway people's views

1 0

We don't hear what's going on until it's

happened/ information not divulged until profit

is being made

1 0

Other 2 6 5

No particular reason/ that's my view 17 13 8


Q32

Q32A Always true 1 1

Mostly true 15 21

Occasionally true 55 53

Never true 19 19

Don't know 9 6

Always/ mostly true 16 22

Occasionally/ never true 75 72

Q32B Always true 1 2

Mostly true 24 26


Never true 8 7

Don't know 15 5



You said that you disagree that the information you

hear about science is generally true. Why do you

say that?

Base: All who disagree that the information they

hear about science is generally true (154 adults; 53

16-24 year-olds)

I feel I could influence Government policy on

science if I wanted to

Thinking of the information you hear about science, how true, if at all, do you think each of the

following statements are?

Journalists who write stories about science have a

science degree or similar qualification

People who write science blogs have a science

degree or similar qualification

You said that you agree that the information you

hear about science is generally true. Why do you

say that?

Base: All who agree that the information they hear

about science is generally true (924 adults; 275 16-

24 year-olds)

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Q32C Always true 2 3

Mostly true 26 28


Never true 15 15

Don't know 7 5



Q32D Always true 12 18

Mostly true 48 44


Never true 4 3

Don't know 10 8



Q33

Q33A Definitely true 29 38

Probably true 22 26

Probably false 14 11

Definitely false 10 10

Not sure 24 14



Q33B Definitely true 6 5

Probably true 16 18



Not sure 12 8



Q33C Definitely true 69 78

Probably true 22 16

Probably false 3 1


Not sure 5 2



Q33D Definitely true 19 18

Probably true 38 31



Not sure 22 17



Q33E Definitely true 43 44

Probably true 38 29

Probably false 8 10


Not sure 9 11



Q33F Definitely true 5 5

Probably true 17 21



Not sure 24 25



Q33G Definitely true 1 2

Probably true 8 10



Not sure 13 10



Q33H Definitely true 63 70

Probably true 23 21

Probably false 5 3


Not sure 4 4



Journalists check the reliability of scientific research

findings before they write about them

Before scientific research is published, it is checked

by other qualified scientists

All radioactivity is man made

All plants and animals have DNA

More than half of human genes are identical to

those of mice

The cloning of living things produces genetically

identical copies

Lasers work by focusing sound waves

By eating a genetically modified fruit, a person's

genes could also become modified

The oxygen we breathe comes from plants

For each of the following statements, please say whether you think it is definitely true, probably true,

probably false or definitely false.

N.B. these answers are not intended to be analysed in isolation but as a combined group. Please

see the main report for the combined analysis.Electrons are smaller than atoms

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Q33I Definitely true 8 7

Probably true 14 12



Not sure 14 15



Q34

Q34A Music 7 15

Art 77 59

Science 2 3

Not sure 14 23



Q34B Music 10 11

Art 63 48

Science 6 9

Not sure 21 32



Q34C Music 4 8

Art 2 4

Science 84 67

Not sure 10 22



Q34D Music 56 31

Art 6 9

Science 7 15

Not sure 31 45



Q34E Music 11 15

Art 14 24

Science 60 48

Not sure 14 13



Q34F Music 9 18

Art 74 40

Science 3 6

Not sure 14 36



Q34G Music 44 32

Art 5 6

Science 6 12

Not sure 45 49



Q34H Music 4 7

Art 12 25

Science 64 35

Not sure 19 33



Q34I Music 58 18

Art 6 8

Science 9 22

Not sure 27 51



Q34J Music 2 2

Art 2 3

Science 83 86

Not sure 13 9



It is the mother's genes that determine the sex of

the child

Claude Monet

Andy Warhol

Marie Curie

Rachmaninov

Galileo

Rembrandt

Miles Davis

Louis Pasteur

George Gershwin

Each of the following names is a person you may have heard of. For each person, please tell me if

you most associate them with music, art or science.

N.B. these answers are not intended to be analysed in isolation but as a combined group. Please

see the main report for the combined analysis.

Stephen Hawking

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Q34K Music 7 12

Art 21 20

Science 7 10

Not sure 66 59



Q34L Music 68 35

Art 5 11

Science 6 12

Not sure 22 42



Q35 You will be fascinated by the beauty of this

natural spectacle

80 80

You will be thinking of how much electricity this

waterfall could produce

8 6

You will be thinking of how unimportant you

are in the natural order of things

8 8

You will think of how to set up a visitor centre

for people to enjoy nature, and to generate

income for yourself and others

2 4

Would not like to get wet * *

All of the above * 0

I'll be drowned / crushed by the pressure * *

Other * 0

Don't know 1 1

Q36 An account with a social networking site (such

as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram)

28 7

An electronic travelcard that allows you to

“touch in” on buses or at train stations (such as

an Oyster card)

13 11

A loyalty card with a supermarket or shop

(including online stores)

12 14

A free email account (such as Yahoo Mail or

Gmail)

10 7

An account with a mobile phone network 9 8

An account with an internet service provider to

access the internet at home

8 7

A bank account 6 7

Other * 0

None of these/no answer 52 59

Don't know 2 6

Q37 An account with a social networking site (such

as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram)

7 9

A loyalty card with a supermarket or shop

(including online stores)

5 2

An account with a mobile phone network 4 8

A free email account (such as Yahoo Mail or

Gmail)

3 5

An account with an internet service provider to

access the internet at home

2 1

A bank account 2 1

An electronic travelcard that allows you to

“touch in” on buses or at train stations (such as

an Oyster card)

1 1

Other 0 0

None of these/no answer 83 73

Don't know 2 6

Q38 Strongly agree 21 30

Tend to agree 40 38




Don't know 2 7

Agree 61 68

Disagree 27 19

And which, if any, of these services have you

previously stopped using or changed to be with a

different provider because of concerns about how

your data was used?

Which, if any, of these services have you decided

not to take up because of concerns about how your

data would be used?

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the

following statement? I don’t mind how data collected

about me is used, as long as it’s anonymised and

can’t be linked back to me.

Mark Rothko

Johannes Brahms

Now imagine you are standing alone and staring

into a large waterfall, like Niagara Falls. Which one

of these would come first to your mind?

BIG DATA MODULE

Asked of a quarter of the sample in 2014 (446 adults; 117 16-24 year-olds)

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Q39

Q39A Strongly support 7 8

Tend to support 29 31

Neither support nor oppose 19 20

Tend to oppose 23 18

Strongly oppose 21 19

Don't know 2 4

Support 36 39

Oppose 43 37

Q39B Strongly support 24 30



Tend to oppose 7 9

Strongly oppose 4 5

Don't know 5 5

Support 73 68

Oppose 11 14

Q39C Strongly support 2 5





Don't know 4 4

Support 18 24

Oppose 62 57

Q39D Strongly support 13 13




Strongly oppose 6 3

Don't know 4 7

Support 56 58

Oppose 20 12

Q39E Strongly support 24 32



Tend to oppose 6 4

Strongly oppose 6 5

Don't know 4 3

Support 70 74

Oppose 13 9

Q39F Strongly support 2 5





Don't know 5 5

Support 9 25

Oppose 70 53

Q39G Strongly support 51 52



Tend to oppose 3 2

Strongly oppose 2 2

Don't know 2 3

Support 88 86

Oppose 6 3

Using data from shop loyalty cards to target

products at people who are more likely to want them

Here are some specific ways in which people’s data can be used. In each of these instances, the

data is anonymised, so it can’t be linked back to individuals. To what extent do you support or

oppose each of these uses of people’s data?

Using data from electronic travelcards (such as

Oyster cards) to help improve the scheduling of

buses or trains for passengers

Websites using people’s online browsing histories

to create personalised adverts for products that

people are more likely to be interested in

Combining the data held by multiple government

departments and using them to better tailor public

services to individuals

Using police and crime data to predict and plan for

crimes that might take place in the future

Offering discounted mobile phone calls and texts,

funded by personalised adverts based on the

content of people’s text messages

Creating a DNA database of cancer patients, in

order to help develop more effective treatments for

cancer

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Q40 Abuse of personal information (such as bank

details)/ identity theft

40 34

People have a right to privacy 32 35

Being sent spam/ junk mail 18 27

I don’t trust private companies/ don’t want

them to profit

18 14

Haven’t got people’s consent 17 15

I don’t know what the information is used for 15 8

Hackers/ other people getting hold of data 14 6

I don’t want people/ organisations to know that

much about me

13 10

I can’t see what information is held on me 10 10

Depends on what information they want 8 2

I don’t trust the Government 6 5

I don’t trust the police 2 3

Nothing in particular/ that’s my view 1 1

Don't know 3 2

Q41 A very big impact 19 18

A fairly big impact 27 33

Not a very big impact 34 29

No impact at all 8 8

Don't know 12 13

Very/ fairly big impact 46 51

Not very big/ no impact 42 36

Q42 Increases levels of food production 50 43

More disease resistant 22 11

Make crops more consistent (in taste, quality,

size etc)

18 21

Will allow certain crops to be grown in adverse

conditions (e.g. drought)

16 11

More predictable harvests 12 13

Health benefits (e.g. lower fat content) 8 7

Make food tastier/ better quality 7 10

Don't know 15 20

Nothing/ no benefits 9 9

Q43 Potential negative impact on health 26 28

Don’t understand the long term effects 22 20

Disrupts ecosystem/ wildlife 16 14

Destroying natural crop species 15 12

Cross-pollination with non-GM crops 14 12

Don’t agree with the principle/ not natural 8 4

Not properly tested 8 7

Don't know 19 22

Nothing/ no risks 5 4

Q44

Q44A A very big issue 28 18

A fairly big issue 32 34

Not a very big issue 28 34

Not an issue at all 10 12

Don't know 2 2

A big issue 60 52

Not a big issue 38 46

Q44B A very big issue 72 62

A fairly big issue 20 31

Not a very big issue 4 4

Not an issue at all 1 0

Don't know 2 2

A big issue 93 93

Not a big issue 5 4

What would you say are the main benefits, if any, of

genetically modified (GM) crops?

Base: all who have heard of genetically modified

(GM) crops (429 adults; 127 16-24 year-olds)

What would you say are the main risks, if any, of

genetically modified (GM) crops?

Base: all who have heard of genetically modified

(GM) crops (429 adults; 127 16-24 year-olds)

How much of an issue, if at all, do you think ensuring that there is enough food to go around is in …

… the UK today?

… the whole world today?

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRI-SCIENCE MODULE


You said you oppose people’s data being used in

some of these ways. What makes you oppose these

uses?

Base: all who oppose at least one of the uses of

people's data mentioned (382 adults; 88 16-24 year-

olds)

The analysis of large datasets often requires the

use of supercomputers that use electrical power.

How much of an impact, if any, do you think these

supercomputers will have on the UK's energy

consumption in the future.

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Q45 Famines/ starvation in poor countries/ third

world

40 44

Increasing population 30 22

Climate change 19 11

Inequality between countries 16 23

Scarce land/ water/ resources 16 14

Global economy/ economic downturn 13 10

Politics/ trade barriers/ unfair trade 12 9

Price of food/ rising prices 12 14

People eating more/ changes in diets 6 4

Transport costs 4 5

Overfishing 2 1

Too much waste/ food waste 2 3

Government/ government corruption 1 *

Not enough food/ decrease in amount of food 1 0

People living longer * 1

Poverty * 1

War * 0

Weather * 1

Knowledge/ lack of education about growing

food

* *

Other 2 2


Q46

Q46A Strongly agree 20 18

Tend to agree 47 43




Don't know 4 6

Agree 67 61

Disagree 15 17

Q46B Strongly agree 11 11

Tend to agree 33 26




Don't know 8 7

Agree 44 37

Disagree 22 30

Q46C Strongly agree 31 34

Tend to agree 46 43




Don't know 3 1

Agree 77 77

Disagree 13 11

Q46D Strongly agree 31 29

Tend to agree 49 44



Strongly disagree * 1

Don't know 3 3

Agree 80 73

Disagree 9 9

Q46E Strongly agree 14 14

Tend to agree 43 46




Don't know 8 7

Agree 58 60

Disagree 15 14

Ensuring that the UK has enough food to go around

will become a big issue in the future

The UK Government is not doing enough to ensure

that the UK has enough food to go around in the

future

We already grow enough food in the world – the

problem is getting it to the people who need it the

most

We should not rule out any agricultural techniques

or technologies that might help to increase world

food production

Genetically modified (GM) crops are needed to

increase world food production

What do you think makes this a big issue today?

Base: all who think this is a big issue today (426

adults; 135 16-24 year-olds)

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

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Q47

Q47A A great deal 22 23

A fair amount 43 38

Not very much 23 20

Not at all 12 17

Don't know 1 2

Great deal/ fair amount 65 62

Not very much/ at all 34 36

Q47B A great deal 24 18

A fair amount 44 34

Not very much 22 31

Not at all 10 15

Don't know 1 1



Q47C A great deal 16 9

A fair amount 38 29

Not very much 28 35

Not at all 17 26

Don't know 1 1



Q47D A great deal 5 7

A fair amount 25 18

Not very much 40 44

Not at all 29 31

Don't know 1 1



Q47E A great deal 6 6

A fair amount 26 32

Not very much 38 32

Not at all 29 29

Don't know 1 1



Q47F A great deal 5 4

A fair amount 21 25

Not very much 41 27

Not at all 32 43

Don't know 1 1



Q47G A great deal 5 8

A fair amount 27 31

Not very much 40 31

Not at all 27 29

Don't know * 2



Q47H A great deal * 0

A fair amount 4 8

Not very much 32 38

Not at all 63 52

Don't know 1 3



Q47I A great deal 1 2

A fair amount 6 11

Not very much 26 33

Not at all 65 52

Don't know 1 3



Q47J A great deal 1 1

A fair amount 16 26

Not very much 33 29

Not at all 49 42

Don't know * 1



ROBOTS MODULE


Care of children

Care of older people

How much, if anything, have you heard or read about the use of robots and robotic technology in the

following areas?

Space exploration

Manufacturing

Military and security

Healthcare

Home use, such as cleaning

Agriculture

Transport

Education

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Q48




Tend to oppose 2 3

Strongly oppose 2 2

Don't know 2 3

Support 87 79

Oppose 5 5




Tend to oppose 3 2

Strongly oppose 5 1

Don't know 3 4

Support 81 79

Oppose 8 4




Tend to oppose 6 8

Strongly oppose 5 9

Don't know 4 4

Support 72 56

Oppose 12 17






Don't know 4 4

Support 53 51

Oppose 28 27





Strongly oppose 7 5

Don't know 2 3

Support 58 60

Oppose 21 20




Tend to oppose 8 3

Strongly oppose 5 3

Don't know 4 6

Support 66 64

Oppose 13 6





Strongly oppose 9 7

Don't know 4 5

Support 53 56

Oppose 24 18

Q48H Strongly support 4 3





Don't know 3 4

Support 14 14

Oppose 68 65

Space exploration

Manufacturing

Military and security

Healthcare

Home use, such as cleaning

Agriculture

Transport

Care of children

To what extent do you support or oppose the use of robots and robotic technology in the following

areas?

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Q48I Strongly support 4 5





Don't know 2 3

Support 18 23

Oppose 64 59

Q48J Strongly support 5 7





Don't know 4 3

Support 42 44

Oppose 33 30

Q49






Don't know 2 3

Support 27 31

Oppose 58 53






Don't know 5 4

Support 53 42

Oppose 31 39






Don't know 4 4

Support 33 26

Oppose 52 62






Don't know 3 3

Support 55 58

Oppose 28 24






Don't know 2 4

Support 38 35

Oppose 44 45






Don't know 4 4

Support 57 54

Oppose 27 31






Don't know 4 4

Support 33 40

Oppose 47 38

Care of older people

Education

And to what extent do you support or oppose the following specific uses of robots and robotic

technology?

To control driverless public buses without help from

human beings

To fly unmanned planes in military operations

In hospitals, to carry out medical operations such as

heart surgery

To carry out household tasks for older or disabled

people, such as cooking and cleaning

In schools, as teaching assistants to help children to

learn

To fly unmanned planes in search and rescue

missions

To act as companions for older people and people

with dementia

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Q49H Strongly support 26 31



Tend to oppose 6 8

Strongly oppose 6 4

Don't know 3 4

Support 72 72

Oppose 12 12

Q50

Q50A A great deal 29 22

A fair amount 47 47

Not very much 19 25

Nothing at all 5 4

Don't know 1 1



Q50B A great deal 5 4

A fair amount 18 18

Not very much 32 37

Nothing at all 44 40

Don't know 1 2



Q50C A great deal 17 10

A fair amount 38 27

Not very much 22 27

Nothing at all 21 32

Don't know 1 3



Q51




Tend to oppose 7 0

Strongly oppose 4 1

Don't know 1 2

Support 76 85

Oppose 11 1




Tend to oppose 6 9

Strongly oppose 2 1

Don't know 10 7

Support 51 47

Oppose 7 10






Don't know 3 1

Support 36 42

Oppose 34 27

Q52

Q52A Very positive 16 21

Fairly positive 44 57

Neither positive nor negative 23 12

Fairly negative 7 2

Very negative 5 1

Don't know 6 8

Positive 60 78

Negative 12 3

To monitor the condition of food crops and apply

water or pesticides as needed

EMERGING ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MODULE


To what extent do you support or oppose the development of the following energy technologies in

the UK?

… reducing climate change?

Base: all who have heard of offshore windfarms

(388 adults; 112 16-24 year-olds)

Offshore wind farms

Carbon capture and storage

Fracking to extract shale gas

Before this interview, how much, if anything, had you heard or read about the following energy

technologies?

Offshore wind farms

Base: all who have heard of this (388 adults; 112

16-24 year-olds)

Carbon capture and storage

Base: all who have heard of this (225 adults; 73 16-

24 year-olds)

Fracking to extract shale gas

Base: all who have heard of this (315 adults; 75 16-

24 year-olds)

To what extent do you think that offshore wind farms would have a positive or negative effect on …

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Q52B Very positive 14 26



Fairly negative 10 2

Very negative 3 2

Don't know 5 7

Positive 58 70

Negative 13 4

Q53




Fairly negative 8 4

Very negative 1 0

Don't know 13 10

Positive 55 61

Negative 9 4




Fairly negative 6 3

Very negative 2 3

Don't know 14 14

Positive 39 52

Negative 8 6

Q54 Will increase the supply of natural gas 30 36

Cheaper energy supply/bills 29 16

Reduce reliance on overseas gas sources 15 7

Better for the environment/climate

change/greener energy

10 4

Greed / profit making scheme 1 -

More jobs 1 3

Other 1 1

Don't know 21 31

Nothing/no benefits 11 9

Q55 Earthquakes 43 24

Bad for the environment/climate change 22 28

Pollution of water supplies 15 11

Don't know the long-term effects 14 9

Pollution in general 10 13

Not properly tested 5 8

Don't agree with the principle/not natural 4 0

Dangerous / risk to life / casualties / illness 2 2

Explosions 2 1

Expensive 1 2

Other 1 1

Don't know 17 27

No risks/not stated 4 6

Q56





Very negative 6 10

Don't know 12 11

Positive 25 25

Negative 24 34





Very negative 2 0

Don't know 9 12

Positive 57 53

Negative 11 13

… the UK economy?

Base: all who have heard of fracking to extract

shale gas (315 adults; 75 16-24 year-olds)


Base: all who have heard of carbon capture and

storage (255 adults; 73 16-24 year-olds)

… the UK economy?

Base: all who have heard of carbon capture and

storage (255 adults; 73 16-24 year-olds)

And what would you say are the main benefits, if

any, of fracking to extract shale gas?



And what would you say are the main risks, if any,

of fracking to extract shale gas?



To what extent do you think that fracking to extract shale gas would have a positive or negative

effect on …

And to what extent do you think that carbon capture and storage would have a positive or negative

effect on …




… the UK economy?

Base: all who have heard of offshore windfarms

(388 adults; 112 16-24 year-olds)

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Q56C Very positive 9 2



Fairly negative 9 5

Very negative 5 0

Don't know 11 10

Positive 46 48

Negative 14 5

Q57 A great deal 5 4

A fair amount 39 45

Not very much 36 34

Not at all 13 12

Don't know 7 6



Q58 A great deal 6 3

A fair amount 42 42

Not very much 32 35

Not at all 12 10

Don't know 8 10



… people’s energy bills?



And how much, if at all, do you trust the UK

Government to adequately regulate fracking?



And how much, if at all, do you trust the energy

industry to carry out fracking safely?



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public attitudes to science 2014 topline results 28 46 36 15 health/drugs/cures for ... this topline...

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